Before COVID-19, The Food Bank faced a challenge in effectively distributing fresh produce in a variety. Last spring, we found our solution with Produce Boxes, packing a myriad of nutritious food in one easy-to-take box.
Providing healthy food to families is key to our mission. Previously, The Food Bank sent our partner agencies fresh produce in large pallets. Often, each pallet only carried one type of fruit or vegetable. That meant if a partner agency received two pallets of produce, there would only be two types to provide to the community, like apples and lettuce. While still providing nutritious food, this method lacked the variety we want to provide to people.
In 2020, the USDA created the Farmers to Families Food Boxes to respond to COVID-19. The temporary program worked with food banks to distribute boxes of fresh produce, milk, dairy foods and meat — the variety of items The Food Bank always wanted to provide in a single package. By the end of August in 2020, the program was so popular more than 1.98 million boxes were distributed through it. With lessons learned through Farmers to Families and changes to our Buddy Pack Program that reduced its volunteer needs, The Food Bank had the time and knowledge to dedicate to its new effort: Produce Boxes.
Through partners like Aurora Organic Dairy and the Moberly Walmart Distribution Center, The Food Bank is able to secure the regular source of produce and dairy needed to supply the initiative. Last fall, we started distributing nine items per Produce Box, with most including milk, fresh fruits, vegetables, and shelf-stable products such as rice, beans, pasta and sauce.
Another benefit to the Produce Box initiative is how sustainable and efficient it is. We can sort all of the different food items at The Food Bank and ensure waste that can be recycled is recycled. By using our volunteers to sort these items, we free up more time for the soup kitchens, food pantries and other organizations with which we work.
The Food Bank’s goal is to distribute 60,000 Produce Boxes by the end of 2021. This would mean supplying thousands of families with an enjoyable variety of healthy, fresh food.